One day later I was stumbling around the room. Irinay had transferred me from the apprentice dorms to the tower, so she could keep a closer eye on me. Costia had not left my side, she kept my injuries checked and made sure I rested as much as I could. It was nice having her by my side, aside from Edaii I never had someone around on whom I felt I could count on. A light knock on the door disturbed my train of thought, Costia got up and threw a cloth at me. "Wrap that around, Lexa" she ordered, as I could not fit any of my pants around my swollen leg yet.

Irinay entered the room and looked me over. "You look a lot better, Lexa. How are you feeling?"

I smiled at her in response and nodded carefully. "I feel a lot better."

She pulled a chair out and sat down. "We should talk."

I nodded silently in response.

Before Irinay could start, the door opened and Titus stepped through. I had only seen him in a semi-conscious state, all I remembered was him telling me that he was proud before I lost consciousness.

He nodded his head at me. "I see you're up and running, Lexa?".

I nodded in response. "Stretching and moving the muscles, doctors orders." I responded while nodding my head at Costia.

"She's taking good care of you, I can tell."

Costia was shifting uneasy in the corner of the room, not being accustomed with being the subject of conversation.

I limped towards a chair and sat down so I could stretch my leg. My arm had been freed from its constraints as well, but it was still stiff and tender to touch. "Master Titus, what brings you here today?" I asked.

He stood opposite me and gave me a long look. It made me feel uneasy. "I came to bring you this" He said while extending his hand and showing me my dagger.

I stared at him confused. Edaii told me he had it and he promised to stop by and give it to me. It's true that he never showed, I just figured Titus had him training. An uneasy feeling crept up on me and I looked from the dagger to Titus.

"Where is Edaii?" I asked him promptly.

"He is pre-occupied" He answered curtly.

I raised my brow. "Why do I get the feeling that no one is telling me the whole story?" I said offended while crossing my arms.

Now it was Titus' turn to stare me down. "Noumou, Lexa." (enough)

I turned my eyes down and whispered in a trembling voice. "Yes Master."

Irinay felt the tense atmosphere. "What's going on?" She demanded.

Titus' face hardened when he turned around to answer her. "Nothing." He said curtly before heading to the door.

Irinay raised her hand to stop Titus from leaving. "Hodop." (hold up)

She shifted her attention to me and asked. "What is going on, Lexa?"

I looked from Titus to Irinay and my brain was in conflict. I knew that defying Titus was never the best option, however, I was under command of Irinay now. Before I could decide who was winning the fight in my head, Costia stepped forward and said. "She wanted to know why Titus was bringing her dagger, while the boy promised to bring it."

Irinay lowered her hand and glared at Titus. "Why wouldn't you just tell her?" She demanded

Titus glowered. "Because it would not do her any good."

"Hold op." I said while raising my hand. "Tell me WHAT, exactly?" I demanded

The past two days I had spent in the room, drifting between consciousness. The only person that had always been around was Costia. I didn't thought much about being moved from the dorms – I kind of understood that it must have been easier.

Titus his jaw flexed. "Very well, Irinay. But I warned you." I looked between Titus and Irinay and she gave me a re-assuring look. Titus continued. "You winning the conclave did not fare well with the Ice Nation. Polis is surrounded with Azgeda and they want blood – your blood to be specific."

"Azgeda started a war, Lexa. This is the reason I had you moved up here." Irinay added.

My eyes grew wide upon this information.

I suddenly felt sick. "Bu.. But" I stammered. "What does that has to do with Edaii?"

Titus shook his head. "He was seen in the arena to retrieve your dagger, after he had left you yesterday he was kidnapped by Azgeda. They sent his head to Polis because of his ties to you."

My stomach turned. My head was spinning and I was gasping for air.

In one brusque gesture Titus planted my dagger in the table top right in front of me. "Hodnos laik kwelness (love is weakness), Lexa. You know this." He said with an icy look in his eyes before heading to the door.

A tear formed in the corner of my eye. Titus warned me before, his words echoed in my head. Love is weakness, friends are weakness, caring is weakness. He once asked me what I would do if I had to face Edaii in a conclave, I told him I would not do it. I would not kill him. That got me in deep trouble.

I was so absorbed in my own grief that I didn't notice that Costia was behind me. She put her arms around me and comforted me silently. Irinay shook her head apologetically. "I'm sorry Lexa, but the dead are silent and the living are hungry." She handed me a larger pair of breeches before adding; "We leave at first light, be sure to be fully rested."

With those words she left me and Costia behind. I stumbled towards the window, from which I could see the fields where Edaii and I spent countless hours, hiding from trainings and just enjoying one anothers company. I brought two fingers to my lips and kissed them before bringing them back to my chest, that was how Edaii and I always said our goodbyes. "May we meet again" I whispered. Costia then spent an hour just consolidating me, holding me and comforting me before bringing me back to bed. Then she got up and got her own make-shift bed ready.

"Costia?" I asked in a soft plead.

"Yes?"

"Please don't leave me alone tonight." I whispered while drying the tears from my eyes.

My eyes were fluffy and red, I was not a pretty sight. Nevertheless, Costia silently complied with my plead and placed her blanket on my bed before slipping under it. She pulled me in a tight embrace and whispered in my ear. "I would never leave you alone."

In the comfort of being held, I drifted off in a restless sleep which was disturbed by images of Edaii's head without his body.

When I woke up, I felt far from rested. Costia was still sleeping and I slipped silently from the bed in order not to disturb her. The morning was dark and fog was hanging heavily over Polis, I knew Irinay was going to show up at any moment now. I grabbed the breeches she previously gave me and dressed myself. I gritted my teeth when I pushed my swollen and still tender leg through the leg. I was just finished when Costia woke up. "Lexa?" She asked in a soft murmur.

I went back to the bed and pressed a kiss on her forehead. "Thank you for all your concerns, Costia. May we meet again." It didn't feel good to leave her here. I felt like I had to protect her, but I knew she would be safer here. Healers are well protected, since they are scarce.

She smiled back at me. "I will miss you, may we meet again."